Troopers are usually mostly involved in traffic. You can also be assigned anywhere in the state so should be free to travel. Police Officers of course remain in the same place and are involved in a wider variety of police work. It just depends on what you think you want to do. I have always thought that if you want a job as a LEO then become a Deputy, if you want a career, become a Police Officer or Trooper. The reason being is because when a new sheriff is elected often anyone above the rank of Sgt is likely to either be fired or reduced in rank or even advanced in rank. Not so with Police as you can work your way up by hard work and taking the exams. Less politics.

being a retired ny city police officer, i've always respected the ny state troopers. they work solo mostly, are very disciplined, and have wide jurisdiction. but, a cop is a cop. go where the money is and fly straight. good luck to you.

Politics suck! I was a Deputy and switched to a local Police Department which I enjoy much better. The work is pretty much the same, but you don't have to worry about who is going to be in charge every four years! In the end go with who will hire you, get some experience, and then move on if it is not right for you and your family!

Dino has confirmed what I said that if you want a career become a city cop, if you want a job, become a Deputy. In the city you do not have to worry when you make rank through hard work that someone new will be 'elected' and suddenly you don't have a job anymore or have been demoted. I am not sure about the Troopers and politics but you must be free to up and move as they can assign you anywhere and move you anytime as well.

Well here is my 2 cents worth. Working as a Deputy now and having been through a change in Sheriffs, this county is nice cause only the Sheriff, his Undersheriff/chief deputy and his personal secretary leave the department if he is not re-elected. In our state out state police department : notice I did not say trooper: is so undermanned they have started a new program called hometown recruiting. They offer contracts to new recruits that allow them to be stationed where they are recruited at as long as they want. Of course in order to be promoted you have to move to where the open position is, but also the state police does alot more than accident investigation here, they also handle most county calls after 2am when most of the SO's shut down for the night cause they are to small for 24/7 coverage. Now the PD in the city where I live is the political can of worms. Even if you test well it still comes down to who you know in order to get that promotion. Also we have a large hole in our dispatchers so the officers have to work one extra shift a week at least in dispatch. It is over time and they get paid for it which is good. Right now our PD is short handed also due to people taking better paying jobs in other agencies. What department has not seen this. New guy get hired, goes through the acadamy on the cities dime, does his rookie year so he has time in service then moves to a bigger city with a bigger payroll and the city that trained this officer is left with another hole to fill. To me, if you are going to get into law enforcement, don't do it for the money. I didn't and I love my job and no one can make me move to another agency for better money because I took the job not for the pay, but for the pride of service to the community.